This degree produces the thinkers and designers who are concerned with controlling the principles of motion, energy, and force through mechanical solutions. The program emphasizes solid mechanics, thermodynamics, fluid sciences, and energy systems. A solid core of other engineering, math, and computer science coursework ensures well-rounded graduates.
This program is accredited by the Engineering Accreditation Commission of ABET, www.abet.org
Want to design the next generation of passenger jets? Bring wind power to a remote Southwestern village? Help land a space vehicle on Mars? If so, Northern Arizona University's Mechanical Engineering degree could help you take the first steps toward your dream. You will join a broad engineering field that's vital to countless industries. You'll learn to apply mathematics and physics to design and build mechanical components and systems like automobiles, power plants, robots, and spacecraft. In our innovative and award-winning Design4Practice Program, you'll gain a broad set of technical, managerial, and professional skills.
As a Mechanical Engineering major, you will have opportunities for extensive faculty-student interaction, undergraduate research, and hands-on experience through student projects like the Mini-Baja race car, unmanned aerial vehicle, human powered vehicle and urban concept car. In your last semester, you’ll have an opportunity to present the results of your senior capstone project in a professional conference setting on campus at our annual Undergraduate Research and Design Symposium.
To receive a bachelor's degree at Northern Arizona University, you must complete at least 120 units of credit that minimally includes a major, the liberal studies requirements, and university requirements as listed below.
The full policy can be viewed here.
In addition to University Requirements:
Students may be able to use some courses to meet more than one requirement. Contact your advisor for details.
| Minimum Units for Completion | 125 |
| Highest Mathematics Required | MAT 362 |
| University Honors Program | Optional |
| Accelerated Undergraduate/Graduate Plan | Optional |
| AZ Transfer Students complete AGEC-S | Recommended |
| Progression Plan Link | View Progression Plan |
Purpose Statement
Mechanical engineering is a diverse and broad discipline of engineering that applies the principles of mathematics, physics, and science for the analysis, design, manufacturing, and maintenance of mechanical systems. It is the branch of engineering that involves the production and usage of heat and mechanical power for the design, production, and operation of machines and tools. It is one of the oldest and broadest engineering disciplines. This exciting engineering field requires a solid understanding of core concepts including solid mechanics, fluid mechanics, kinematics, thermodynamics, heat transfer, materials science, and structural analysis to name a few. Mechanical engineers use these core principles along with tools like computer-aided engineering and product lifecycle management to design and analyze manufacturing plants, industrial equipment and machinery, heating and cooling systems, automobiles, space vehicles, aircraft, watercraft, robotic devices, wind turbines, medical devices, and much more.
Student Learning Outcomes
This major requires 103 units distributed as follows:
Take the following 103 units:
Engineering Requirements (60 units)
Mechanical Engineering Common Course Requirements (31 units)
Take the following 31 units, which provide an overview of the two branches of mechanical engineering - solid mechanics and thermal and fluid sciences - and give you background for further specialization:
*Prerequisites and/or corequisites to Engineering coursework which must be completed with grades of "C" or better. In addition, ENG 105 must be completed with a grade of "C" or better.
You must achieve a cumulative GPA of 2.65 in MAT 136, MAT 137, CS 122, PHY 161, PHY 262, CENE 251, MAT 238, and ME 240, in order to enroll in 300-400 level courses. The calculation of this GPA will include any transferred coursework from other institutions.
Mechanical engineering undergraduate students who have completed all required foundational courses with a "C" or better but have a GPA in those courses that are below the acceptable GPA for enrollment in upper divisional courses may repeat up to two of the foundational courses in which they earned a "C" to meet the minimum GPA requirement. Students may only repeat a required course in which they earned a grade of "C" one time for it to count toward the foundational coursework GPA.
Any ME course required for the Mechanical Engineering major may only be repeated one time. Petitions for second repeats presented to the ME department will typically be denied and may be considered only in very rare and exceptional cases such as death in the family or extended illness.
Mechanical Engineering Depth Requirements (6 units)
Generally these courses have the ME prefix; the only exceptions allowed are the listed EE and CENE courses due to their significant ME content. You can also use ME 500-level courses as depth electives, as a qualified senior with departmental approval.
Mechanical Engineering Breadth Requirements (6 units)
Please note that you can't have more than two grades of "D" in your engineering and computer science courses. Furthermore, all prerequisite and corequisite courses for your engineering courses must be completed with grades of "C" or better.
This program is available as an Accelerated Undergraduate/Graduate Plan wherein a student may start a master's degree while simultaneously completing their bachelor's degree.
Students enrolled at the Flagstaff campus for both undergraduate and graduate programs are eligible to complete the Bachelor of Science in Mechanical Engineering and start a Master of Science in Mechanical Engineering at NAU.
Students accepted into the Accelerated Program should complete the following requirements:
Major Requirements
This major requires 100 units distributed as follows:
Take the following 100 units:
Engineering Requirements (60 units)
Mechanical Engineering Common Course Requirements (28 units)
Take the following 28 units, which provide an overview of the two branches of mechanical engineering - solid mechanics and thermal and fluid sciences - and give you background for further specialization:
Any ME course required for the Mechanical Engineering major may only be repeated one time. Petitions for second repeats presented to the ME department will typically be denied and may be considered only in very rare and exceptional cases such as death in the family or extended illness.
Mechanical Engineering Depth Requirements (6 units)
Mechanical Engineering Breadth Requirements (6 units)
Please note that you can't have more than two grades of "D" in your engineering and computer science courses. Furthermore, all prerequisite and corequisite courses for your engineering courses must be completed with grades of "C" or better.
Additional coursework is required, if, after you have met the previously described requirements, you have not yet completed a total of 125 units of credit.
You may take these remaining courses from any academic areas, using these courses to pursue your specific interests and goals. We encourage you to consult with your advisor to select the courses that will be most advantageous to you. (Please note that you may also use prerequisites or transfer credits as electives if they weren't used to meet major, minor, or liberal studies requirements.)
Be aware that some courses may have prerequisites that you must also successfully complete. For prerequisite information, click on the course or see your advisor.